Pocket respirator



Sept. 16, 1952 R. B. HALLER Er AL POCKETRESPIRATOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 4, 1947 R. B. HALLER ETAL Sept. 16, 1952 POCKET REsPIRA'roR Filed June 4, 1947' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ou o ooe ooooeoooo o oooooooo., ooaoooo o.. oooooooo oocooooooo oo 14.14 n rroegvfxs.

Patented Sept. 16, 1952 POCKET RESPIRATOR Robert B. Haller, Wilkinsburg, and'William P.

` Yant, Murraysville, Pa., assignors to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1947, Serial No. 7.752,532

This invention relates tol respirators, 'and more particularly torespirators small enough to be carried in the pocketnw'hen they are not in use. v

It is among the objects ofthis invention to provide a respiratorwhich is very small andlight weight, which is lcomfortable to wear, which'V is of simple but sturdyconstruction, which isv inexpensive, and'which'includes a readily replaceable air purifying element.

In* accordance with this invention,A the body offthe respirator is in the form of a cup disposed on its side so thatit has a substantially vertical end wall from the edge of which yan annular side wall projects laterally, preferably toward the wearer. An air purifying cartridge is removably mounted in the cup in'sealing en'- gagement with its side wall. The inner end of lthe cartridge is spaced from the end wall of the.

cup, and this space is connected with the outside of the cup by means of an air passage through the cup wall. A mouthpiecey above the cup is connected by a tubular member with Athis air passage. The mouthpiece is held in the Amouth of the wearer and may lserve as the sole support for the'respirator. The wearer breathes through hismouth, as his nose is closed by a clamp, Yand therefore inhales air through the cartridge, cup

and tubular member connected'to the vmouthpiece. Iny some cases the wearer may exhale through the cartridge, while in others the respiratoris provided with valves so that he inis screwed, or it may be y'a Aflexible member inA which the cartridge is clamped.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a rear view of a respirator with the carrying strap broken away; Fig. v2 is a side view with parts of the respirator shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view with'the strap removed; Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar t'o Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, of a modied embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the second respirator; and Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a further modification.

Referring-to Figs. 1, 2, and 3` of the drawings,

the body of a small respirator is in the form of a cup I turned on its side' vso that it has an upright end wall 2 encircled by a substantially cylin- 4; Claims. (Cl. 12S-147) is located.

drical sidewall 3. This cup is made from im-A pervious flexible material, such as rubber. Re-

movably mounted in thel cup is a cylindrical cartridge 4 `f well-known design which, as shown inFig. 2,'has Vperforated end plates 6 and 'I between whichvthere is material 8 suitable for purifyingI the air that is tovbe inhaled through it. Whereprotection is desired from low concentrations of chlorine or sulphur dioxide, for

example, iodized carbon may be used. However,

cup is provided with A`an annular shoulder 9 thatv limits the distance the cartridge can be inserted" in the cup. To hold the cartridge in the cup and to prevent leakage of Vvair between their adjoining side walls, the annular side Wall 3 of the cup is encircled by a clamping band I I, the ends of which are drawn together by a removable screw I2 in a well-known manner. The position fof the band along the cup can be controlled by providing theside Wall with a'pair of laterally spaced encircling ribs I 3l between which the band AThe spaceor chamber ybetween the inner end of thev cartridge and the endy wall of the cup is provided with an air outlet or passage I4 (Fig.

upwardly and rearwardly.` The lugs are gripped' between the teeth of the wearer with flange I'I inside the-mouth'between Ytheteeth and lips.v

The lipssurround the upper end of the tubular member so that the wearer can inhale through it to draw air throughthe cartridge, where it is purified, and then out of the cup through outlet I4. The respiratory is supported by the mouthpiece with the upper part of the respiratorY body engaging the front oflthe chin. -To keep the lower lip and chin out of contact with the `metal cartridge, and also to make the respirator more comfortable to use, the upper part of the cup has an integral segment I9 that extends rearwardly over the upper edge of the cartridge.

Extending downwardly from the rear edge of" tridge 44.

this segment is a rubber pad 20 that spaces the cartridge from the chin. The front of the pad may be provided with integral projections V2i Y so Vthat it will not obstruct the openings in plate l.

Inhalation through the nose is prevented by means of a nose clamp'which may take any of:

several different forms. The clampV shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of an arcuate coil spring 23 the downturned ends of which encircle stems.

24 on opposed rubber discs 25. The two stems are pulled in opposite directions to separate the discs so that they can be slipped over `the sides' The stems then are released, and.

of the nose. Spring 23 presses the discs againstY the nose-to close the nasal passages. to the rest of the respirator by `a. cord 2B.

Although with certain chemicals in the 'cartridge, exhalation as well as inhalation can take place through the cartridge, other chemicals must not be subjected to the exhaled-breath. Therefore, the respirator may be providedV with valves, to assure unidirectionalair flow through thev cartridge. One way of mounting the Valves is to provide the inside. of thercup Awith anannular groove in which a metal platefsis fitted tightly. The plate is spaced from the inner lend ofi the cartridge and provided with a few centrally'lo-r .cated inlets 29 which are coyered by ariiexible rubber valve-diaphragm 3l?. in front of the plate.

The center of the diaphragmk is provided with.

a short headed lstem 3i that extends through a central perforation inY thev plate to connect the diaphragm to the plate.

The. end wall 2 ofgthe cup is provided with a group croutlets 32 normally closed-by aY flexible rubber valve. diaphragm V3.3` outside the cup. `The center ofY the diaphragmis provided with a headedfstem 34' that extends through a perforation in the cup to connect the diaphragm toit. The cup maybe providedwith a rib 35 encircling. the exhalationvalveftc-help protect it.v Also, the inside of the end wall may be provide-:dl with a plurality of integral bosses rthat engage plate 28; vto prevent the end wall from being dra-wn against the plate when the wearer inhales.

The cup 'i preferably is provided: with integral perforated lugs 38 on opposite sides of air outlet M, and rings areconnected to these lugs and to the ends of any suitable carrying; strap 4G, preferably adjustable in length, that can extend around the neck ofthe wearer to support the respiratorwhen it is notin use. While the res-'- pirater is being used, the strap may be placed over the wearers head to relieve the wearers mouth. of some of the weightY of the respirator.

In the embodimentI ef the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the cup-42 is rigid, preferably being formed from metal, and. its annular side wall 43 isprovided with screw threads for receiving the threaded inner end of an air purifying carcartridge canY be screwed into the cupV is limited by a shoulder 46 with which the cup is providedsome distance from its upright end wall 41. A gasket'tl is'compressed betweenv this shoulder and a shoulder i3 formed at `the inner end of the cartridge to prevent leakage between them. Inside the cartridge a perforated plate 57i is held against shoulder i9 by the chemical l'sllwhereby the chemical is spaced from the inner end wall 53 o the cartridge. This wall is provided centrally with a group of inlets 54 normally' covered by a iiexible valve diaphragm ,56 connected toV thewall by a headed stem l.V `With this arrangement a As shown in Fig. 6,.the distance the' The clamp is attached cupto the mouth.,

' tridge is replaced.

The exhalation valve may be formed in the same manner, or it may be a separate unit mounted in a large opening in the end wall 4170i the cup. The valve shown has a body 58 of flexible material, such` as rubber, provided' with a surrounding/groove y59 for receiving the cups end wall. This body is provided with a group of outlet openings 6| through it,.the outer ends of which rnormally are closed by a flexible diaphragm 52. The center of the diaphragm has anr integral stem 6 3 lthat extends through the center o thevalve body to connect them together.

Between the cartridge and the cups end wall, the upper portion of side wall 43 of the cup is providedwith an air outlet passage surrounded by an upwardly projecting ilange 66. Telescoped over this flange is a tubular member 6l which extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and. carriesan integral mouthpiece onits vupper end. Likev the vn xouthpieceY previously described, this one consistsof a longitudinally curved ange EB provided with teeth engaging lugs Sanearits oppositeendfs.v

Thev sidewall'ofvthefcupTA on opposite lsides oi. thejair outlet .is provided with-wiredugs li,to

which the endso- F- aev adjustablecarrying strap` l2.. areatt-ached.` A cord '53 lianes-downfrvfrom one of these wire lugs andsupportsa nose clamp which in this caseis shown as being` formed from a springrwire which isbent in suchamanner as.

to providea central coilj I4 from-whichv upwardly projecting, reversely. bent portions extend.

The ends of the. wire extend downwardly from thesjegp'ortions andare hooked onto opposed parallel discsfll. An' advantage*'of` this 'clamp is that it can be loperated by one-hand by merely pinchingupwardly projecting Vportions 'i6 together, which will spreadA the lower Aends of the clampvfarther apart andI thereby separate discs 'il the amount necessary to receive the nose. 1 Ln the modificationy shown in Fig. '7 the distance-that the cartridge 8 l canbe inserted ,in the flexible cup 52 is limited by a plurality of spacingv members which may be inthe form of bosses 83 integral with the end `wall Stof the cup. TheY cupsen'd' wall may be provided with anfe'xhalation valve S6 the same as shown in Fig. 2, al. though, if desired, it maybe-located-at the center oftheV endwall as shown. The inhalation check.

valveis mounted in a-convex plate 3.1., vthe edgeoi which is secured tightly to the cartridge case 88 around its perforated plate .83. of the convex plate is providedv with a plurality of inletsli normally; closed by a flexible diaphragm.

92 heid against theinner surface of the plate by a hcadedstein 93 projecting through an aperture in theplate. Asinthe Fig. 5 embodiment of the invention, a new inhalation valve is used every time the cartridge' is 'replaced by a freshone, because.` the valve is connected. permanently to the cartridge. Y l

It will be seen tha-t all of the respirators disclosed herein are of sucha shape that the respirator body rests against the chin to ease the. load on mouth and teeth. This is due to the fact that the tubular Vmember above the cup extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the According to theV provisions utes, we have explained the principle and ccnstruction ofour invention and have illustrated and` described whatwe now consider to represent its best embodiment. However;V we desire to have Thecentral areav of the patent stat' it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated an described.

We claim:

1. A respirator comprising a cup having a substantially vertical end wall from the edge of which an annular side wall projects laterally, an air purifying cartridge removably mounted in the cup in engagement with its side wall but spaced from said end wall, the upper portion of said side wall between the cartridge and end wall being provided with an air passage, a mouthpiece above the cup connected to said passage, and an exhalation valve mounted on said end wall, said end wall being provided with an outwardly projecting protective rib surrounding the valve.

2. A respirator comprising a cup having a substantially vertical end wall from the edge of which a flexible annular side wall projects laterally, an air purifying cartridge removably mounted in the cup in engagement with its side wall and having a perforated inner end wall extending across the cup but spaced from said cup end wall, a clamping band surrounding said side wall for sealing it against the cartridge. a wall of the cup being provided with an air passage opening into the space between said end wall and cartridge, 4a. tubular member connected to said passage and extending upwardly therefrom and over said cartridge and a mouthpiece above the cup connected to said tubular member.

3. A respirator comprising a cup having a substantially vertical end wall from the edge of which an annular side wall projects laterally, an air purifying cartridge removably inserted in the cup in engagement with its side wall and having a perforated inner end wall extending across the cup, bosses mounted on said cup end wall and projecting toward the cartridge to space the cartridge from said cup end Wall, a wall of the cup being provided with an air passage opening into 6 the space between said end wall and cartridge, and a mouthpiece above the cup connected to said passage.

4. A respirator comprising a cup having a substantially vertical exible end wall from the edge of which a flexible annular side wall projects laterally, an -air purifying cartridge removably mounted in the cup in engagement with its side wall, a clamping band surrounding said side Wall for clamping it against the side of the cartridge, bosses in the cup integral with said end wall and projecting toward the cartridge to space it Afrom said end wall, the upper portion of said side wall being provided with an air passage, a tubular member connected to said passage and extending upwardly therefrom and over said cartridge, and a mouthpiece mounted on the upper end of said member.

ROBERT B. HALLER. WILLIAM P. YANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,292,115 Soderling Jan. 2l, 1919 1,298,404 Romanoi Mar. 25, 1919 1,730,227 McBride Oct. 1, 1929 1,841,691 Wilson Jan. 19, 1932 1,935,813 Neveu Nov. 21, 1933 2,385,938 Pierce Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,909 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930 OTHER REFERENCES Fieldner et al.: Gas Masks for Gases Met in Fighting Fires, page 23, Dept. of Interior Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 248, Washington 1921. 

